Alkaline Trio Form Label with Epitaph, Set New Album for Early 2010 Release

There sure has been lots of news in the Alkaline Trio camp this month. Fans of the Illinois-based gothic punk rockers will recall that we announced how vocalist/guitarist Matt Skiba will be issuing his debut solo effort soon. And while he's all set to go with his own venture, apparently the band have been making deals with major independent Epitaph Records at the same time.

Via a press release, Alkaline Trio announced they will be releasing their highly-anticipated seventh studio album in early 2010 via a joint label venture with Epitaph called Heart & Skull.

Here's what Skiba had to say about the deal: "We made the decision to form Heart & Skull to put out our own records after having been through every kind of label deal in the industry, big indies, small indies, majors. We knew it was time to adapt to the shifting tides of the music industry and we could not be more thrilled about doing that in conjunction with the team at Epitaph. Taking control of our own label situation was something we always wanted to do but never thought was possible, but now thanks to Brett Gurewitz and the fine folks at Epitaph, it is. All three of us in Alkaline Trio have always had the utmost respect for the music and the work ethic of the Epitaph, Anti- and Hellcat family and now we're honoured to be working together under one big happy roof. Heart & Skull/Epitaph is truly a dream come true for us."

It's finally some solid news after a months of toil. You might recall that the band parted ways with former home Epic Records after one solitary album, 2008's Agony & Irony.